Today's Thought
Thought For The Week: By Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron
Living simply, we no longer need a checklist. Have you noticed how glued we
are to our daily checklists of things to do? We think the items on our lists are
crucial and scurry around trying to finish these tasks. But the more we do, the
more we have to do and our list doubles. The sad thing is that our lists seem to
lack really important items such as:
• Look my children in the eyes with love and listen to how their day went,
• Tell my friends how much I appreciate their good qualities,
• Be generous to those who are destitute or ill,
• Sit down and be peaceful inside my own heart,
• Meditate on the great kindness of all.
Last Week's Thought:
YOUTH
You’ve left home too soon:
Drunks frighten you, profligates paw you.
What good is a hermit’s jewel?
Comment: “Young people need compassion and guidance, not obscure
mysticism. Here are some guidelines for young people:
1. Remember that you are always your own person. Do not surrender your
mind, heart, or body to any person. Never compromise your dignity for any
reason.
2. Maintain your health with sound diet, hygiene, exercise, and clean living.
Don’t engage in drugs or drinking.
3. Money is never more important than your body and mind, but you must
work and support yourself. Never depend on others for your livelihood.
4. Choose your friends and living situation carefully, for they will influence
you. Find a mentor you can trust, one who can answer your every question, but
never give up responsibility for your own life. No one lives your life for you.
5. A good education is always an asset.
6. Emotions are transitory and are not a good way to make decisions.
7. Every day, you must make decisions. Everything you do will have
irrevocable effects upon your life. Before you go down any path, consider
carefully. Rivers very rarely reverse course.
8. Know evil, but do not do evil yourself. Remember, there is a way out of the
delusions of life. When you weary of the world find someone to show you the
way back.”
Weeks Past:
Thought For The Week:
COOPERATION
Cooperation with others.
Perception, experience, tenacity.
Know when to lead and when to follow.
Comment: “When we become involved with a fellowship, we must gradually
become an integral, organic part of that organization. The relationship will be
one of mutual influence: We must carefully influence the collective, and in
turn, we will be shaped by the company we keep.
Influencing others requires perception. We need to know when to act, when to
be passive, when others are receptive to us, and when they will not listen. This
takes experience, of course, and it is necessary to take part in a great many
relationships – from our families to community associations – to cultivate the
proper sensitivity. In time, there will be moments of both frustration and
success, but in either case, a certain tenacity is crucial. If we are thwarted in
our initiatives, then we must persevere by either maintaining our position or
changing it if a better one prevails. If we are successful, we must not rely on
charisma alone, but we must also work to fully realize what the group has
resolved to do.
True leadership is a combination of initiative and humility. The best leader
remains obscure, leading but drawing no personal attention. As long as the
collective has direction, the leader is satisfied. Credit is not to be taken, it will be
awarded when the people realize that it was the subtle influence of the leader
that brought them success.”
Weeks Past:
Thought for the Week:
“Be glad of life, because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play
and to look up to the stars; to be satisfied with your possessions; to despise
nothing in the world except falsehood and meanness, and to fear nothing except
cowardice; to be governed by your admirations rather than by your disgusts; to
covet nothing that is your neighbor’s except his kindness of heart and
gentleness of manners; to think seldom of your enemies, often of your
friends…and to spend as much time as you can, with body and with spirit.
These are the little guideposts on the footpath to peace.” – Henry Van Dyke
Living simply, we no longer need a checklist. Have you noticed how glued we
are to our daily checklists of things to do? We think the items on our lists are
crucial and scurry around trying to finish these tasks. But the more we do, the
more we have to do and our list doubles. The sad thing is that our lists seem to
lack really important items such as:
• Look my children in the eyes with love and listen to how their day went,
• Tell my friends how much I appreciate their good qualities,
• Be generous to those who are destitute or ill,
• Sit down and be peaceful inside my own heart,
• Meditate on the great kindness of all.
Last Week's Thought:
YOUTH
You’ve left home too soon:
Drunks frighten you, profligates paw you.
What good is a hermit’s jewel?
Comment: “Young people need compassion and guidance, not obscure
mysticism. Here are some guidelines for young people:
1. Remember that you are always your own person. Do not surrender your
mind, heart, or body to any person. Never compromise your dignity for any
reason.
2. Maintain your health with sound diet, hygiene, exercise, and clean living.
Don’t engage in drugs or drinking.
3. Money is never more important than your body and mind, but you must
work and support yourself. Never depend on others for your livelihood.
4. Choose your friends and living situation carefully, for they will influence
you. Find a mentor you can trust, one who can answer your every question, but
never give up responsibility for your own life. No one lives your life for you.
5. A good education is always an asset.
6. Emotions are transitory and are not a good way to make decisions.
7. Every day, you must make decisions. Everything you do will have
irrevocable effects upon your life. Before you go down any path, consider
carefully. Rivers very rarely reverse course.
8. Know evil, but do not do evil yourself. Remember, there is a way out of the
delusions of life. When you weary of the world find someone to show you the
way back.”
Weeks Past:
Thought For The Week:
COOPERATION
Cooperation with others.
Perception, experience, tenacity.
Know when to lead and when to follow.
Comment: “When we become involved with a fellowship, we must gradually
become an integral, organic part of that organization. The relationship will be
one of mutual influence: We must carefully influence the collective, and in
turn, we will be shaped by the company we keep.
Influencing others requires perception. We need to know when to act, when to
be passive, when others are receptive to us, and when they will not listen. This
takes experience, of course, and it is necessary to take part in a great many
relationships – from our families to community associations – to cultivate the
proper sensitivity. In time, there will be moments of both frustration and
success, but in either case, a certain tenacity is crucial. If we are thwarted in
our initiatives, then we must persevere by either maintaining our position or
changing it if a better one prevails. If we are successful, we must not rely on
charisma alone, but we must also work to fully realize what the group has
resolved to do.
True leadership is a combination of initiative and humility. The best leader
remains obscure, leading but drawing no personal attention. As long as the
collective has direction, the leader is satisfied. Credit is not to be taken, it will be
awarded when the people realize that it was the subtle influence of the leader
that brought them success.”
Weeks Past:
Thought for the Week:
“Be glad of life, because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play
and to look up to the stars; to be satisfied with your possessions; to despise
nothing in the world except falsehood and meanness, and to fear nothing except
cowardice; to be governed by your admirations rather than by your disgusts; to
covet nothing that is your neighbor’s except his kindness of heart and
gentleness of manners; to think seldom of your enemies, often of your
friends…and to spend as much time as you can, with body and with spirit.
These are the little guideposts on the footpath to peace.” – Henry Van Dyke
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Some of the "thoughts" are from I Ching Wisdom Volume Two; More Guidance from the Book of Answers by Wu Wei